Prepare to Work Closely With Nuclear Medicine Physicians to Perform Important Imaging Procedures

Tests such as bone scans, PET tests, nuclear cardiac stress tests, and other imaging procedures are helpful to a broad span of medical specialties such as pediatrics, cardiology, and psychiatry.

Nuclear medicine technologists are responsible for patient education and support, working directly with patients during imaging procedures. They assist in giving patients bone scans, PET, and nuclear cardiac stress tests. They also prepare and administer the compounds used in complex computer imaging studies. In addition, they analyze biological specimens in laboratories and provide data analysis and patient information to the physician for diagnostic interpretation.

The Curriculum

This 120-credit program consists of two phases of study.

Phase one includes 88 credits of coursework in areas such as public speaking, chemistry, biology, physics, and math that are prerequisite to the clinical year. Additionally, students complete all of the Liberal Studies requirements while at the IUP main campus. All requirements in phase one must be completed before progressing to the affiliating school of nuclear medicine technology.

Phase two includes 32 credits in the 12-month clinical year, during which students attend classes and clinical experiences through either the Nuclear Medicine Institute (NMI) at the University of Findlay, Ohio, or the Nuclear Medicine Technology program at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) in Pittsburgh. Both programs are fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT).

Students admitted to NMI spend four months at the University of Findlay, where they study the theory of nuclear medicine. The program concludes with 35 weeks of clinical training in one of the many affiliating hospitals. The program concludes with one week of review and a final exam.

Students admitted to CCAC spend 12 months in the Pittsburgh area. Classes are taught at CCAC’s Allegheny Campus, and clinical practice includes rotations in three of the Pittsburgh area affiliating hospitals.

Graduates of the nuclear medicine technology program are eligible to apply for the national registry examination. The examinations are administered by the Nuclear Certification Board and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. In many states, certification by either of these two national organizations is needed to apply for licensure so the individual may legally work in that state.

A typical plan of study:

Freshman Year

Fall

Course Name

Credits

BIOL 105 Cell Biology

3

CHEM 101 College Chemistry I*

4

ENGL 101 College Writing*

3

Dimensions of Wellness

3

Total Credits

13

Spring

Course Name

Credits

CHEM 102 College Chemistry II

4

HIST 196/197/198

3

Fine Arts Requirement

3

MATH 105 College Algebra*

3

PSYC 101 General Psychology

3

Total Credits

16

Sophomore Year

Fall

Course Name

Credits

PHYS 111 Physics I Lecture*

3

PHYS 121 Physics I Lab

1

BIOL 150 Human Anatomy*

3

COSC/BTED/IFMG 101 Micro-Based Computer Literacy

3

ENGL 202 Composition II

3

Free Elective

3

Total Credits

16

Spring

Course Name

Credits

PHYS 112 Physics II Lecture

3

PHYS 122 Physics II Lab

1

ENGL 310 Public Speaking*

3

BIOL 151 Human Physiology*

4

Free Elective

3

Free Elective

1

Total Credits

15

Junior Year

Fall

Course Name

Credits

SOC 151 Principles of Sociology

3

MATH 217 Probability and Statistics

3

Global and Multicultural Awareness

3

Free Elective

3

Free Elective

3

Total Credits

15

Spring

Course Name

Credits

Philosophy/Religious Studies Requirement

3

ENGL 121 Humanities Literature

3

Free Elective

3

Free Elective

3

Total Credits

12

Senior Year†

Fall

Course Name

Credits

NMDT 427 Nuclear Scintigraphy

3

NMDT 428 Radiation Physics

3

NMDT 429 Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation

3

NMDT 430 Radiation Biology and Radiation Protection

2

NMDT 431 In Vivo/In Vitro Non-Imaging

1

NMDT 432 Radiopharmaceutical

3

NMDT 433 Introduction to Tomographic Imaging

1

Total Credits

16

Spring

Course Name

Credits

NMDT 434 Clinical Nuclear Medicine

16

Total Credits

16

*NMI requires C or higher grades in these courses. For the most favorable review of the application, students are encouraged to have completed all of these courses before the application deadline. NMI also requires a C or higher grade in a Humanities
and Social Sciences course. CCAC requires a minimum of C grades in several priority courses for admission, although students are encouraged to earn A and B grades in math and science courses to be competitive for admission.

†IUP is affiliated with two accredited nuclear medicine technology programs. Students apply for admission to one of these programs for completion of the final year of study.

The Nuclear Medicine Institute (NMI) at the University of Findlay, Ohio: In this program, students spend one semester at NMI, 32 weeks in clinical training at one of NMI’s approved clinical sites, and return to NMI for a final examination.

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Department at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC): In this program, students spend 12 months in classes at the CCAC Allegheny Campus and clinical training at various sites in the Pittsburgh area.